Which PLantation is best?
 

I am traveling to Charleston and then to Myrtle Beach and then North along US 17. Does anyone have a recomendation for the best PLantation to visit in South Carolina and any Must do's in Myrtle Beach of Charleston?
Thank You

Boone Hall Plantation just North of Charlston on Route 17 is a nice place.

I have been to the major four around Charleston. I like Middleton the best - nice grounds, not too time consuming compared to Magnolia, and very good restaurant. My second choice would be Drayton Hall -original house, nice house tour, and a quick stop if time is short. If you want a little more personal feedback on them, you can see my travelogues and photos on Charleston at www.oneeyed.homestead.com.

Boone Hall is on Hwy 17 between Chas. and M.B. It is a well preserved plantation complete with manicured grounds and tours. Another lesser known plantation, right before Georgetown, is Hopwassee Plantation. It is very rustic, and is constantly going through renovations. It is on the left hand side when traveling north.

You could actually stay at the almost 300 year old Litchfield Plantation (www.LitchfieldPlantation.com) in Pawleys Island which is between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Expensive but it is one of the most perfect examples of a low country plantation left today. Although it has diminished from its original 2,000 acres, there are still about 250 acres left.

Vicirish,

must-do in Myrtle Beach? That's an interesting question. There is so much to do. The one must-do though, in my opinion, is to hit the beach at low tide, preferably morning or early evening. We have wide, flat beaches here, great for walking (the shelling is hit or miss, but can be really good). Take a picnic basket to Huntington Beach State Park or Myrtle Beach State Park.

Hopsewee is a gem. If you like history/antiques, you will love this one. Never restored, but actually lived in by only a few families over the past 200 some years, the black cypress original house and period furnishings are a highlight. Tour is given by the owner. Grounds are pleasant and tree covered. Since it's on your way, right along 17, highly recommended. Make a stop for lunch in McClellanville, a charming little town where shrimp is fresh off the boat.

Magnolia has the best gardens and grounds, stunning in the spring especially. Boone Hall is the most photographed, but my guests have not been bowled over in general.

B/

I like Middleton Place the best of the plantations. If you go there, be sure to eat lunch at their restaurant; it's great. Boone Hall has much smaller grounds than Middleton or Magnolia. They are both quite old and have acres and acres of landscaped gardens.

On a side note, Boone Hall is very recognizable to anyone who remembers the North and South miniseries. The oaks and slave cabins figured particularly in the movie. I recently saw the miniseries again, after having been to Charleston a couple of times now, and I found it interesting that the Calhoun Mansion was used as the Hazzard family's Pennsylvania home. It took me a while to get used to that.

If you haven't already made your trip, I highly recommend Boone Hall. It is the oldest operating plantation in America. Some people have knocked it because the house was built in 1935 but what you learn on the house tour is that the reason for that is the first 3 houses were destroyed with fire and/or forces of nature. I also enjoyed the tram tour...takes 45-60 min and well worth the extra $5. If you have time for lunch, Serena's (on plantation) is definitely worth a visit...try their fried green tomatoes!!

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Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place arre both great. They are also in the same area. It would be worth planning to see both.

see; www.magnoliaplantation.com

www.middletonplace.org

I know this is an old thread. We like Middleton very much.
And not a plantation but Brookgreen Gardens near Litchfield is a treat. Beautiful gardens and sculptures.
And finally do NOT be tempted to speed on Route 17 between charleston and Georgetown. Beautiful 4 lane highway, not traffic, and heavily patrolled.

I think that Brookgreen was originally a rice plantation. It's quite old. Fantastic sculpture!!! Coming down from Myrtle Beach to Charleston on 17, it is just a few miles south of MB on your right. We got there at opening time, walked our legs off, had a great lunch at the restaurant, walked around some more and then went into Charleston.

No, I don't think Brookgreen was ever a plantation. It was home to the Huntingtons, and the wife did the sculpture. Huntington Beach State Park is across the road and is interesting also. Their home, Atalaya, is there as well as a nature preserve with lots of alligators, a camp ground and excellent shelling on their beaches.
The other plantations were rice plantations. Pawley's Island's historic district is really interesting. These were the homes where the rice planters came to escape the mosquitoes of the plantations during the summer.
Brookgreen is basically at N. Litchfield, below Murrell's Inlet.